Poem by Hilaire Belloc

On Vital Statistics

Ill fares the land to hast’ning ills a prey (1) 
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.’ 
But how much more unfortunate are those 
Where wealth declines and population grows! 

(1)This line is execrable; and I note it.
I quote it as the faulty poet wrote it.

1. To the Balliol Men Still in Africa
2. To Dives
3. Noël
4. Ballade of Modest Confession
5. The Leader

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